I joined a gym and I’m going to tell you all about it

But before I do, I want you to know that if you are significantly obese and feel you can’t exercise

Or that you have to join a gym or buy exercise equipment

Or workout for a full hour to make a difference

Well that is NOT the case

So even though I joined a gym,  I want you to remember that is not where I started

I started walking at 417 pounds.

30 seconds at a time.

You can read about it

I counted mailboxes.  Mine.  Then the next door neighbors

The house after that

Eventually I made it to 5 miles

And then I had a

My knee was injured and I could barely walk

I had to take some time off

Due to a meniscus tear and arthritis in my left knee, I was told to stop the lengthy walks

And try swimming instead

So  and started

And then my who has been a huge inspiration to me through this process came out to visit last weekend

To help me rethink my exercise routine

He took me to Planet Fitness and now I’m a member!

My brother gave me a great workout that I can do even with my knee issues

I am going to share it with you because maybe it can help others

Planet Fitness is a very low-key, nonjudgemental enviroment

Which is great for someone who feels apprehensive about the gym

And they’re cheap!

10 bucks a month!

You may look at my routine and think…huh??

Can that really be enough?

But if increasing 30 seconds at a time worked for me the first time

Then it will work for me now

It’s easy and do-able

And because of that it is a !

You start simple

Keep it simple

Check the box

Accomplish your goals

And before you know it those 30 seconds will take you longer than you ever imagined they could!

So I’m taking you with me for a day in the life of me at Planet Fitness.

Here we go!

 

Front Desk

They are so non-judgemental that they have a giant bowl of tootsie rolls at the front door. I’m staying away from these!! Candy and I are no longer friends

They also have Bagels and Pizza. Skipping those too as they are literally two of my formerly favorite binge foods!

This is what it looks like when I walk in. Plenty of equipment!

No critics!

You belong!

Judgement Free Zone

We Alarm!

Now here is the exact workout my brother gave me

Here is my first stop. The Recumbent Bike.

You have to adjust the seat to work for you

I go for 10 minutes at Level 2. I wear a heart rate monitor that has two components. It wraps around my waist (yes I can get it around there now!). The other part is a watch. The equipment automatically picks up my heart rate from the monitor I am wearing.

No need to hold onto the bars to get a heart rate!

The heart rate monitor has become invaluable. I know what my heart rate is when I’m working out intensely. It lets me know what to aim for and what is too low or too high.

The 1st 10 minutes on the bike are my warm up.

The 2nd 10 minutes are at a higher intensity and THIS is what I add 30 seconds to every day

So today I was up to 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Tomorrow it will be 12. And so on

The fact that I can FIT on the bike is a very big deal. I could not have done that 150 pounds ago!

I will admit that I was scared to get on the bike because of my knee injury. I thought bending my knee like that would probably just make it worse.

I was wrong. The recumbent bike has made a big difference already. My knee does initially hurt when I start using it. Cracking and popping and making lots of fuss!

But after about 5 minutes, it settles in and I’ve found that I can bend it and go up stairs much easier even after just a few days!!

After the bike, I move to the Elliptial

I HATE IT!!

The first day I got on it (which was just last week) my heart rate was already into the 140’s and all I had done was stand on it!

It reminded me of the first day I started counting mailboxes

But now I’m up to 5 minutes

I started with 4 and I am actually only adding 15 seconds a day!

My brother and I discussed it and decided that is best for this one

It will get my heart rate up into the maximum zone faster than anything

I have a feeling that this will be my toughest challenge yet

After my bike and elliptical routines, I head to the stretching area where I get a floor mat

I literally get down on the floor and then get back up

Trust me–this is HARD for me

I have not been able to get on the floor and then get back up in YEARS

For me this is a major accomplishement

My brother has me doing a yoga move called Cat-Cow

Basically you are on your hands and knees and you stretch

You look up and arch your back like a cow

And then you look down and move your back up like a cat

I started with 4 times and I add one every day

Today I did 6

I think I have my eyes closed in this picture!! But at least I got back on my feet!!

Do I feel kind of stupid getting up and down off the floor?

A little

But who cares. I’m there for ME

And to be truthful–I have seen so far people of every age, size and even disability in this gym

It is not a place that makes you feel self conscious

So now you know my entire Planet Fitness Routine

I drop the kids off at school and head immediately to the gym

Just the fact that I’m exercising again has made a HUGE difference

Mentally more than physically

When you accomplish the goals you set, your confidence grows

My brother calls exercise the Anti-Venom

And it’s true

Because even if it’s 30 seconds

It’s the fact that you set a goal and you accomplished it

And when you do that, a switch flips in your brain

And says WOW!

YOU ROCK!

And it seeps over into other areas

Like eating

You gain strength and power from accomplishing those goals

And it gives you the ability to overcome in other areas too

So in some ways I’m starting over again

Getting back into exercise after my setback

But this is a lot like my life

Sometimes you’re cruising along and get derailed

But that’s when you regroup

And start again

Whether it’s 15 seconds or 30 seconds at a time

Slowly but surely we will win the race!